This archive report was first published on 14 October 2019.
Published on October 14, 2019, a pressing issue in Kenya is the need for a more inclusive executive, where government resources are shared fairly among all citizens.
The current system allows the presidency to determine how national resources are allocated, with the Commission of Revenue Allocation dividing funds among counties using a formula. However, this only accounts for a portion of the national budget, leaving the presidency with significant control over resource distribution.
To address this issue, two possible solutions have been proposed: allocating a larger portion of the national budget to counties in a transparent manner or ensuring that parliamentary budgeting and oversight roles reflect equal representation, allowing constituencies and counties to have a say in how resources are allocated.
The first option would require significant changes to Kenya's system of government, potentially leading to a federal system. The second option would involve increasing the number of MPs in the National Assembly to reflect the population, ensuring that the budget and national government plans reflect the needs of each constituency.
Article 89 of the Constitution sets out the boundaries of each constituency, with the aim of equalizing the number of inhabitants. However, exceptions are made for cities and sparsely populated areas, allowing for a margin of up to 80% difference in voting power between urban and rural areas.
This disparity has resulted in the citizens of Nairobi County being the most under-represented nationally, with their votes worth significantly less than those of rural areas. The Constitution's Bill of Rights emphasizes equality and freedom from discrimination, making it clear that this disparity is unacceptable.
To achieve true equality, Kenya needs to adopt a more inclusive system, where every citizen's vote has equal weight. This can be achieved by making voting power more equal, ensuring that every citizen has an equal say in the government.
